Candidates announced for BKK’s articulated and midi electric bus operation tenders

From 2025, the Budapest Transport Center Ltd. (BKK) plans to gradually introduce at least 90 fully electric buses into Budapest’s public transport system through service contracts. This will include 50 solo buses and 20 each of articulated and midi buses. These environmentally friendly vehicles – along with an additional 150 conventionally powered buses – are intended to replace the buses currently operated under service contracts by ArrivaBus Ltd., which expire after 2025.

BKK has launched three procurement procedures to fulfill the tasks associated with the introduction of the 90 electric buses: one for solo buses, one for articulated buses, and one for midi buses. As previously reported in January, ArrivaBus Ltd. was the sole participant in the initial phase of the tender for 50 buses, with an option for an additional 15. The same applies to the recent tender, which entered the proposal phase, requiring the operation of 20 electric midi buses. However, the tender for the 20 articulated electric buses received two bids, advancing to the proposal phase at the end of February with participation from ArrivaBus Ltd. and Inter Tan-Ker City Ltd.

According to the latter two calls, only new, low-floor, M3/I class, urban-designed electric buses are eligible for the operation of the E1 and E4 service groups. The articulated buses are required to cover 1.2 million vehicle kilometers/year + 15% option, while the midis are expected to cover 1.1 million vehicle kilometers/year + 15% option. Additionally, both cases include an option for six extra articulated and midi buses, with 360,000 + 15% and 330,000 + 15% option annual vehicle kilometers, respectively. The conditions for exercising these options will be determined during the proposal phase and finalized in negotiations. The sole criterion for evaluating bids will be the price proposed by the applicants. The buses are anticipated to begin operation in 2026.

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